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Vol. 4. No. 20 LOS ANGELES
A Balita Media Publication
Wednesday - Tuesday, February 11 - 17, 2015
SAF chief: I directed Mamasapano operation
Philippine National Police Special Action Force Chief Supt. Getulio Napenas, Prof. Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, chairperson of the Government Peace Negotiating Panel for talks with the MILF, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Sec. Teresita Quintos Deles and Former Agriculture Secretary and member of the Peace panel Senen Bacani take their oath during the hearing on the Mamasapano incident where 44 members of the PNP SAF were killed.(MNS photo)
Purisima gave order not to tell AFP, Espina: Napeñas MANILA, Feb 9 (Mabuhay) – Relieved PNP Special Action Force (SAF) chief Getulio Napeñas insisted Monday the Mamasapano operation had enough SAF troopers to carry out the mission to kill Malaysian bomb-maker Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, claiming the elite cops killed at least 250 Moro rebels during the encounter. Speaking before the Senate inquiry on the Mamasapano carnage, Napeñas said: “It is clear that contrary to the unverified re-
ports in the news, the PNP SAF did its best in the preparations and in the planning of the operations against Marwan and Usman.” In his testimony, Napeñas praised the bravery of the SAF troopers who risked their lives in difficult terrain to take down two high-value, international terrorists. He described the SAF as a “family where good men gather together to fight evil.”
“Mission accomplished. This is the only word that the SAF troopers need to hear. Only that it happened with a high price. The lives of 44 brave men, our heroes. Our true Tagaligtas.” He claimed the SAF companies killed at least 250 people, with the 85th Special Action Company taking out at least 150 attackers. The SAF commander said the killing of Marwan came after several aborted missions that were See PURISIMA, page 12
MANILA, Feb 9 (Mabuhay) – Sacked Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNPSAF) chief Getulio Napeñas said resigned Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Alan Purisima did not muddle the January 25 Mamasapano operations. Napeñas insisted during the Senate hearing on Monday that he was the one who was on top of the operations that originally sought to neutralize wanted terrorists Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan and Basit Usman. The mission turned into a bloodbath with 44 police commandos killed; 18 Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) members and several civilians also died. “I was the one handling and directing the operations,” he said, saying that he only took note of the intelligence information provided to him by Purisima, who was serving a 6-month suspension. In fact, Purisima’s intelligence information helped a lot, Napeñas said. There were text messages from Purisima during the operation itself, but he said he didn’t consider them orders.
“It was not an order, but providing vital information through text messages as regards to the conduct of the operations and some items or information pertaining to his talks with the MILF [Moro Islamic Liberation Front] and the support he’s asking from the Armed Forces,” Napenas said. Senator Antonio Trillanes IV asked him: “So you understand that he was suspended then?” Napenas agreed. Chain of Command “Were you fully aware of the chain of command then?” Trillanes asked, to which Napeñas answered that he was to report to PNP officer-in-charge Leonardo Espina since Purisima was already suspended in January 2015. Napeñas said it was his judgment call not to inform Espina and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas of the plan since he had believed then that Purisima was the “focal person” constantly consulted by President Benigno Aquino III himself. “General Purisima is the focal person who is constantly being
MANILA, Feb 9 (Mabuhay) – No ranking official of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) attended Monday’s Senate hearing on the January 25 Mamasapano clash. Among those invited to the hearing — which seeks to determine the circumstances that led to the clash between elite policemen and MILF members despite an existing ceasefire agreement — was Mohagher Iqbal, who chairs the group’s peace panel. Only Rasid Ladiasan, who chairs the MILF’s coordinating committee on the cessation of hostilities, was present to represent
the group. “Originally po I was sent by the leadership to appear as part of the CCCH MILF, if asked I have to answer in the best of my competence,” Ladiasan told senators. This prompted senators to question the MILF leaders’ absence. “Can we have the honor of having Mr. Iqbal present in the hearing? Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin is here,” Senate President Franklin Drilon said. Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano said the MILF should at least submit its report on the
See NAPEÑAS, page 12
MILF leaders skip Senate probe on Mamasapano clash
See MILF LEADERS, page 12
Mancao apologizes to Ping Lacson, Erap
Members of a religious group rally outside the Senate while the inquiry on the Mamasapano clash is ongoing on Monday. The group called for the scrapping of the Bangsamoro Basic Law in light of the clash that claimed the lives of 44 SAF policemen in the hands of Muslim rebels. (MNS photo)
Ex-SAF chief blames late reinforcement for deaths of PNP-SAF 44 MANILA, Feb 9 (Mabuhay) – Relieved PNP-SAF head Director Getulio Napeñas Jr. on Monday blamed late reinforcement for the deaths of 44 elite police officers during the Mamasapano clash last month. In his opening statement during the Senate hearing, Napeñas said: “In other words, had the artillery support we requested arrived on time, the situation would have been entirely different.” “Though I admit, it may not have guaranteed zero-casualty on our part at the very least, had the artillery support arrived hours earlier, the number of casualties would have been way lesser than the actual figure,” he added. The former SAF chief admitted
that they did not coordinate with the military on the Mamasapano operations because some information may leak. “The PNP Intelligence Group is very much concerned of the compromise whenever coordination is done with the AFP including our own intelligence unit. And this is based on our past experiences,” he said. The Armed Forces of the Philippines was able to send reinforcements to the PNP SAF personnel hours after the encounter started. Last week, AFP chief General Gregorio Catapang Jr. said that coordinating early with the military could have made the difference for the 44 Special Action See CHIEF BLAMES, page 12
MANILA, Feb 7 (Mabuhay) – Former police superintendent Cezar Mancao has apologized to former Senator Panfilo Lacson for implicating him in the double murder of PR man Salvador “Bubby” Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito in 2000. “I am very sorry to have implicated all the names, people that ought not to be included in the charge, especially Senator Lacson,” said Mancao, who also expressed intention to surrender after two years in hiding. “I maligned Senator Lacson’s name and reputation. I caused See MANCAO, page 12
Indo president in PHL as fate of death row Filipina lingers Manila, Philippines | AFP | Sunday 2/8/2015 – New Indonesian President Joko Widodo arrived on his first state visit to the Philippines Sunday, as the fate of a Filipina facing execution for drug smuggling in his country hovers over planned talks. Dressed in traditional batik shirt, Widodo was met at a Manila airbase by Philippine officials before being whisked away without making any statement. Widodo, who is on the last stop of a three-nation trip after visiting Malaysia and Brunei, will meet with Philippine President Benigno Aquino on Monday See INDO PRESIDENT, page 12
President Benigno Aquino III announces that suspected Jemaah Islamiyah terrorist Zulkipli bin Hir, alias Marwan has been confirmed dead during the SAF operation in Brgy. Tukanalipao, Mamasapano, Maguindanao, and accepted the resignation of suspended PNP Chief Police Director General Allan Purisima during his message on Friday (Frebruary 6) held at the President hall in Malacanang. (MNS photo)
Aquino, Roxas may meet next week to select new PNP chief MANILA, Feb 7 (Mabuhay) – Following the resignation of suspended Philippine National Police chief Director General Alan Purisima, President Benigno Aquino III may meet with Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II this coming week to choose a permanent chief for the police force. Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda on Saturday said the selection of a new permanent PNP chief could help raise the morale of the PNP, in the wake of recent controversies. “Siguro by next week the President will call the (interior secretary) and they will discuss who (will be) the possible permanent PNP chief. There will be a dis-
cussion,” Lacierda said in an interview on government-run dzRB Radyo ng Bayan. On Friday, Aquino said in a televised speech he has accepted Purisima’s resignation. Purisima, who the Ombudsman preventively suspended last December over a questionable PNP contract, was also linked to the Jan. 25 operation targeting bomber Marwan. Marwan was killed in the operation, but so were 44 Special Action Force police troopers. Purisima said he provided the intelligence information for the Jan. 25 operation but was not involved in the actual operation. See SELECT PNP, page 12
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Wednesday - Tuesday, February 11 - 17, 2015
THE US ASIAN POST
Kin of Fallen 44 won’t get US reward: official WASHINGTON, DC, Feb 6 (Mabuhay) – Who will get the US$5 million reward for the death of Malaysian bomb-maker Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan? According to the police attaché at the Philippine Embassy in Washington DC, only civilian informants are eligible for the bounty offered by the US government. “It is not the [Special Action Force]. As a general rule, wala pong government employee katulad ng SAF or Philippine National Police or the Philippine Army or any member of Armed Forces of the Philippines...is eligible to receive any bounty because it’s part of their job to arrest a wanted person,” Senior Superintendent Jose Gentiles said. “Ang binibigyan po ng bounty are those who gave the information. It’s an incentive para po ma speed up yung paglocate ng isang wanted person.” Gentiles said the identity of the informant will remain confidential. No bounty will be given to an ineligible informant if the person turns out to be a government employee or official, he said. A total of 44 elite police commandos from the Philippine National Police Special Action Force were killed in the January 25 operation to take out Marwan in Mamasapano, Maguindanao. The operation also claimed the lives of more than a dozen MILF rebels and civilians. SAF troopers who killed Marwan severed his right index finger and
took photos of his body because they couldn’t carry it amid heavy fighting. The US Federal Bureau of Investigation later said the DNA sample provided by Philippine authorities belongs to Marwan. “Although the results of the DNA examinations do not provide absolute identification, the results do support that the biological sample provided by Philippine authorities came from Marwan. Further testing and analysis will be conducted by laboratory examiners in an effort to fully identify the subject of DNA provided to the FBI,” said David Bowdich, assistant director in charge of the Los Angeles field office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. A source familiar with the testing process said there is believed to be a sibling connection between the sample and DNA from bin Hir’s brother, Rahmat bin Hir, who is in US custody. Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Cuisia Jr. said the sacrifice of the 44 police commandos was not in vain as he expressed his condolences to their family members. The ambassador said he is also pleased that the FBI quickly confirmed the DNA samples provided by the PNP were that of the Malaysian terror suspect. “We are thankful to the FBI that they have come back very quickly to us confirming that the DNA results show the person who was killed by the 44 by the Special Forces Commandos was Marwan himself.
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Aquino demands rebels surrender top militant by Joel GUINTO
Manila, Philippines | AFP | Friday 2/6/2015 – Philippine President Benigno Aquino Friday demanded Muslim rebels surrender a top terror suspect who escaped a bloody police raid or be “run over” in a government manhunt. In a televised address, Aquino sought to calm public outrage over the death of 44 police commandos in a chaotic bloodbath that targeted two most-wanted terrorists. Zulkifli bin Hir, better known as Marwan and a key suspect in the 2002 Bali bombings, was believed killed in the raid. Abdul Basit Usman – accused of taking part in at least nine bombings in the Philippines – is thought to be hiding with rebel groups. “If Usman is in your territory, I expect you to surrender him to authorities, help arrest him, or don’t interfere in the manhunt,” Aquino said, addressing the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). “To those who have lost their way, who would still stand in our way, remember this: you are fighting the state, and we will run you over,” he said. The MILF signed a peace treaty with Manila last year aimed at ending a decades-old rebellion that has claimed more than 120,000 lives. “May this serve as a warning and a reminder: we will get Usman, whatever you decide, regardless of who provides a safe haven for him, regardless of where he may be hiding,” he said. Aquino has been heavily criticised over the botched January 25 raid on the southern island of Mindanao which descended into chaos when police were ambushed by rebel forces, including members of the MILF. ‘Very dangerous’ Usman, charged in Philippine courts over bombings since 2003, is believed to have links to the Southeast Asian militant group Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) and the local Abu Sayyaf outfit. The US government is offering a $1 million reward for his capture. DNA analysis by the FBI indicated that Malaysian bombmaker Zulkifli, a top JI militant and a key suspect in the 2002 Bali bombings that killed 202 people, was killed, Manila said. The US had offered a $5 million bounty for him. The bloodshed threatens not only the peace treaty, but Aquino’s hold on power as it has left security forces demoralized said Ramon Casiple, executive director of the Manila-based Institute for Political and Electoral Reform. “It’s the biggest political crisis he has faced. The survival of his administration, his legacy, and the peace process are all at stake,” Casiple told AFP. “This can cost him his life. This is a very dangerous situation because he picked a fight with his bodyguards... It’s a terrifying situation,” he said. The Philippines has a long history of military uprisings, including two that toppled presidents Ferdinand Marcos in 1986 and Joseph Estrada in 2001. Aquino was ambushed in a failed coup against his mother, democracy icon Corazon Aquino in 1987. A bullet from the attack remains lodged in his neck. Aquino tried to calm the furore during his Friday speech, pledging support for the slain police officers’ widows and orphans. “I am the father of this country and 44 of my children were killed. They can no longer be brought back. This tragedy happened during my term, and I will carry this to the end of my days,” he said. ‘Big name’ The president was savagely criticized after he skipped arrival honors for the policemen’s remains at Manila airport. He also arrived late to funeral services the following day. “He has gone from one blunder to another... This is a slow-burning crisis that is very difficult to stop because the sacrifices involved are massive,” Casiple said. Aquino said he made his own informal investigation into the incident and found that the situation on the ground was “vastly different” than expected during planning. He also announced Friday the resignation of national police chief Alan Purisima, who oversaw the police assault. Zulkifli’s death was the “most significant terrorist kill in recent years,” international terrorism expert Rohan Gunaratna, of Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, told AFP. Jakarta-based security analyst Sidney Jones agreed Zulkifli was a “big name”, but said his death would not have a huge impact on the new generation of fighters. “It’s symbolic because he was one person who always seemed to evade capture,” said Jones, the director of the Institute for Policy Analysis of Conflict.
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OPINION
Senators express concern on security of Mamasapano clash survivors MANILA, Feb 9 (Mabuhay) – Senators on Monday expressed concern on the security of the survivors in the Mamasapamo clash and their families over what they would be disclosing during the Senate probe on the bloody encounter that left 44 PNP-Special Action Force personnel dead. At the beginning of the hearing, Senator Grace Poe, head of the committee on public order and dangerous drugs, said the survivors are present but they will not be presented physically. “We may have to talk to them separately to get their sworn statements, if ever we need to share it, we will not ask for their physical presence here in the session hall for their health reasons,” she said. Senator Gregorio Honasan II, a former Army officer, said that beyond the issue of security of the witnesses that will be called, in view of the ongoing pursuit operations, the lives of ground operatives and civilians are involved “so it is in this light that we manifest formally the need for utmost security as a consideration in not only on the appearance of witnesses but the in the information that will be shared in this committee.” Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. suggested that the testimony of select resource persons be held in an executive session to protect them and their families. Some of the families and relatives of the fallen Special Action Force commandos have sought the assistance of Marcos in seeking justice for the death
of their loved ones. Poe said they will determine the need for an executive session at the appropriate time. “They are here to observe the proceeding. They seek assistance to my office. They asked nothing but justice,” Marcos said. “We will determine that if there is a reason, if there is a threat to national security and their person,” she said. Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano, for his part, said he was able to talk to the survivors who are willing to come and testify by they fear not only for their lives but those of their families. “Some of them are still recovering. There were a couple who are willing to come here but they requested their name not to be released because Marwan’s friends are still active. They also want to speak in front of the camera but their faces be covered so their identity will not be discovered. If there is an issue on national security, they will stop,” he said. He said the Philippine National Police and Armed Forces should have a liaison officer with the committee to advice who are the survivors who are willing to come out. “Sometimes, the mere release of the name already endangers the family of the people. I leave it up to you, Madam chair. My office is also open. Sabi nila, they want to speak up. Sila, OK lang sila. Iniisip lang nila ang pamilya nila,” he said. (MNS)
Lack of coordination delayed ceasefire in Mamasapano: MILF MANILA, Feb 9 (Mabuhay) – “Why did it take six to seven hours before you instruct to stop firing?” So Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero to Rasid Ladiasan, chairman of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities, in relation to the bloody Mamasapano clash which took the lives of 44 elite policemen. Escudero said the MILF had confirmed that there was an engagement with government forces at 6:38 a.m. of Jan. 25. Ladiasan explained that enforcing the ceasefire was difficult as heavy gunfire ensued in the area. “Ang unang sinabi sa counterpart namin ay iceceasefire na namin ito… paano namin ice-cease fire?” Ladiasa told the joint Senate hearing of the committees on public order and dangerous drugs, and on peace, unification and reconciliation. “Umabot sa naisip namin na gumawa ng task force, hindi madali ang situation sa ground at communication, ‘yun ang element kung bakit kami nahirapan,” he added. Ladaisan added that the lack of coordination between the PNP-SAF and the MILF contributed why the ceasefire was not enforced earlier. “Coordination ang problema, wala kaming natanggap na coordination. We want to coordinate our
team, tinawagan namin ang ground commanders, ang sabi nila sa amin sila ang unang pinutukan at namatay agad ang tinamaan,” he said. “Walang gustong mangyari nito, kami rin po namatayan,” he added. The January 25 incident resulted to the deaths of the 44 elite policemen, 18 members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and four civilians. MILF’s breakaway faction, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighter, is also involved in the encounter. Ladiasan said that Marwan was killed in the area occupied by BIFF. For his part, Senate President Franklin Drilon asked if there was a failure of chain command within the MILF. Ladiasan replied: “Buong puso po kami nagcoordinate, ang aming pwersa buong puso ring nagpatupad ng kooperasyon. Sa lahat ng ginawang yun ay wala kami engagement with the government.” The PNP SAF’s mission was to serve the warrant of arrest to two suspected terrorists – Malaysian Jemaah Islamiyah leader Zulkifli bin Hir also known as Marwan and Filipino bomb maker Basit Usman who were confirmed to be hiding in the area. Marwan, who has a $5 Million bounty on his head, reportedly died during the clash, while Usman managed to escape. (MNS)
Chiz puzzled why MILF took seven hours to enforce ceasefire Senator Chiz Escudero said he was puzzled why it took the Moro National Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) about six to seven hours to order its combatants to stop firing at the elite police force despite having knowledge that these were government troopers. Escudero raised this observation at the Senate hearing conducted earlier today by the Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs with the Committees on Peace, Unification and Reconciliation, and the Committee on Finance, to shed light on the circumstances surrounding the January 25 Mamasapano clash that killed 44 members of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) and injured about over dozen others. During the Senate investigation, Rashid Ladiasan, head secretariat of the MILF’s Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH), said that they received the information about the clashes between 6 a.m. and 6:30 a.m.. Reports, however, showed that MILF fighters stopped firing past noon that day. At this point, Escudero asked: “Why did it take six to seven hours before the MILF instructed their men to stop firing? They only stopped when everyone was dead.” “We have an ongoing peace talks, and the Moro
Islamic Liberation Front already knew that the troops they were firing at were from the government. Why didn’t they stop firing?” Escudero pointed out. According to Ladiasan, lack of coordination and communication constrained the MILF from immediately carrying out a ceasefire. The senator also asked Justice Secretary Leila De Lima if the peace agreement would affect the course of seeking justice for the slain SAF troopers and hold MILF fighters responsible for the deaths of “Fallen 44” accountable, in accordance with the law. “Ma’am, just to clarify, correct me if I’m wrong, as a lawyer and secretary of justice, a peace agreement does not and will not change our criminal laws? The peace agreement does not grant amnesty?” Escudero asked. De Lima replied: “The fact that there is a peace agreement does not affect the power of the state to enforce its laws.” Escudero also recalled the incident in 2011 when 19 soldiers were killed by the MILF during clashes in Al-Barka in Basilan – an incident that he insisted should be raised in the peace talks between the government and MILF negotiators to ensure accountability.
SwissLeaks whistleblower’s tale worthy of a spy novel by Isabel MALSANG
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Paris, France | AFP | Monday 2/9/2015 – Herve Falciani was once just an IT worker at a big bank, but since running off with hundreds of thousands of damaging documents from banking giant HSBC he has been alternately called a hero and a thief. “He is brave. We have the highest opinion of Mr. Falciani’s work, whatever his motivations may be. He has served the public interest,” said Eric Alt, vice president of the French anti-tax fraud group Anticor. Swiss authorities however have charged him with data theft for taking the documents that became the basis for the SwissLeaks revelations this weekend. The cache of documents claimed HSBC’s Swiss private banking arm helped clients in more than 200 countries evade taxes on accounts containing $119 billion (104 billion euros). Life was not always so complicated for the 43-year-old Franco-Italian, but later twists would be worth of a spy novel, according to Le Monde journalist Gerard Davet. He started off working in a Monaco casino in the 1990s, before becoming an IT worker for HSBC in 2000. When he moved to the bank’s offices in Geneva in 2006 his life would take a major turn. The so-called “Snowden of tax evasion” and “the man who terrifies the rich” obtained access
to a massive database of encrypted customer information. In 2007 Falciani took the names of over 120,000 clients and by 2008 headed for Lebanon with his mistress and a plan to sell the data. Swiss authorities described it as “cashing in.” Yet suspicious bankers in Lebanon were not interested in buying the dubiously sourced client list, and at least one instead tipped off counterparts in Switzerland to Falciani’s activities. After his plan to sell the data fell apart, Falciani got in contact with European fiscal authorities and began passing them the pilfered information, which prompted numerous tax evasion audits. Though he remains wanted on data theft charges, France and Spain have offered him protection by refusing to extradite him to Switzerland. He did, however, spend a couple months in a Spanish prison in 2012 at Switzerland’s request before winning his release for helping Spain track down its tax cheats. Falciani even made an unsuccessful run in May’s European Parliament elections as a candidate for Spanish protest party, Partido X. These days Falciani makes 3,500 euros a month (over $3,900) in exchange for lending his scientific expertise to French tax authorities. His paychecks come from France’s national computer technology institute INRIA, where he has been a researcher for the past few years.
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UTREACH Valentine’s Day: The only safe metallic balloon is a secure When not tied to a weight or kept indoors, the colorful gifts can drift away and into power lines and equipment, causing outages and potential injuries By Paul Netter
February 05, 2015 – It usually happens with a loud bang followed instantly by a disintegrated balloon. For the uninitiated, that’s often the sound made when a metallic balloon drifts into a power line, transformer or substation. And, unfortunately, it’s usually the beginning of a power outage. With Valentine’s Day approaching, it’s a sound that usually grows more significantly in February and March compared with the preceding months. It signifies an increase in balloon-related outages caused by more people receiving them as gifts and eventually allowing
them to carelessly drift away. And there are consequences beyond power outages, including potential threats to public safety and property damage. While drastically reducing balloon outages remains elusive, the solution is still cheap and simple. “People should keep their balloons indoors if possible, but they should always be attached to a weight heavy enough to keep them from floating away, especially outdoors,” said James Mackenzie, SCE principal manager of Corporate Safety Programs. “Our top priority is safety and keeping the lights on. If the public practices good judgment by never releasing balloons outdoors, we will all benefit.” Balloon weights are required by California law and mass balloon releases are also illegal in many states, including California. Despite those laws, SCE had 656 balloon-related outages last year, down slightly from the 689 in 2013. And while ballooncaused outages are definitely not confined to February – SCE’s high last year was its 137 in June – they typically start rising in February and March compared with the previous two months. Last year, SCE had 30 and 64 of the outages, respectively in February and March after experiencing 20 and 24, respectively, in December and January. The March numbers, incurred long after Valentine’s Day, indicate how metallic balloons can retain helium for several weeks, which along with their durability is among the reasons for their popularity. Perhaps the most serious downside, though, is when the balloon contact is so intense that it causes a power line to sever and dangle or fall to the ground. In addition to prolonging an outage, this is a major safety threat that people should avoid – even if the power lines appear not to be live. People should never touch or approach them and they should call 911 immediately. Additionally, balloon owners should never try to retrieve a balloon – or any foreign object – tangled in power lines or poles. They should instead call SCE at 800611-1911. And when disposing of them, balloons should never be released. Instead, puncture them several times or cut the knot with scissors before throwing them in the garbage so they won’t float away. “Balloons may not seem that significant, but when they’re allowed to drift and land in the electrical infrastructure, they can threaten safety and cause major damage,” said Mackenzie. “They can also disrupt peoples’ everyday activities.” Those disruptions can notably include inoperable traffic signals, but also extend to shopping, pumping gas or using an ATM, to name just a few. “It’s safe to say that even one balloon outage in February or any other month is one more than necessary,” said Mackenzie. “People should act responsibly to keep them secured because it only takes one to create a dangerous situation or affect the lives of thousands.”
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Traveling and choosing a life partner Traveling is something I enjoy doing and from which I have learned a (Part 3)
lot about life. Desirous of sharing these learnings and tips with you, I decided to start a travel column. This month, I embark on travel writing. And since it is also the month of love, February 14th being Valentine’s Day, I decided to write about one of my most memorable trips, ever, my 2013 trip to Eng- stead, we wore layers and layers. land which helped me to pick my And on site, we witnessed the layers of clouds disappear as the sun life partner. This is the third and conclud- shone to welcome us to this aweing installment of a 3-part series inspiring sight. Clue #15 – Find someone you in which I recall the places my then boyfriend and I saw; and the could tackle life’s challenges with things we did, when he brought – the cold, the rain, the disapme to his home country, to intro- pointments from things not going your way or not going as planned. duce me to his family. We planned a 2-week sojourn. There will be a lot of problems in And on the third day, we visited life; but the role of a life partner Lester’s old stomping ground. He is to go through this with you, lived in Notting Hill for a few years encouraging you, understanding before moving to the U.S. It was a how you feel, maybe even helping Saturday, when the world-famous to come up with solutions. And as Portobello Market was alive. The we were rewarded by the glorious road was filled with sidewalk ven- sunrise and the memorable expedors selling antiques some people rience n enjoying a world-famous landmark in that way, in life, would classify as “junk.” There were interesting mer- with the right partner, there will chandise; but I had a hard time also be many rewards. moving about when everyone was There were six shopping shoulder-to-shoulder. more days of advenI was also very cold, wearing a ture after that, in and short peach-colored shirt over around the English black tights, paired with over-the- countryside. I’ll save knee boots. I only had two layers those for another colof tops; and a Burberry bucket umn. But here are hat. more tips, if you’re How very English; but so not planning a trip to enough to keep warm! I put on a England. brave face because Lester was exTRAVEL NOTES: citedly catching up with one of his To Stay: Newton of friends we scheduled brunch Farmhouse – a charmwith at Electric Diner, adjacent to ing bed and breakfast one of the oldest cinemas in Lon- run by Lizzie Guild don. Still, in between catching up, and her husband, he kept asking me if I wanted for David. There are difus to go back to the hotel. ferent farm animals Clue #12 – He’s considerate of you can interact with, me, how I feel and what I think; relaxing things to and I of him, though close family do in the area. The and friends would teasingly dis- breakfast was delish! agree. (Southampton Road By the time we got back to (A36), Salisbury, South Ken, I was warmer but also Wiltshire SP5 2QL); hungrier, as I didn’t eat much in The Pelham Hotel – Notting Hill, consumed by the 15 Cromwell Place, cold and the discomfort that my South Kensington, light outfit caused me. We satis- London SW7 2LA, UK fied the hunger with an English To Shop: Notting staple, fish n’ chips. He wanted to Hill Portobello Margo around some more, to take me ket – The weekday to other places. This was going to fruits and veggies be our last night in London. But market expands on I was too tired, too cold. He un- Saturdays to include derstood. We stayed in our room, antiques, vintage packing our stuff for check out the items and other curifollowing day. At night, when we osities. Hence, go on a both got hungry, we ate at Bistro Saturday; Tate ModFifteen, the restaurant inside the ern Gift Shop – offers hotel – small, intimate place, but lots of unique souveoh so delicious menu! nirs and gift items; so Clue #13 – Understanding and does the Stonehenge respecting each other’s needs, Gift Shop; Not includeven if it conflicts with yours. This ed in the article, but is important in a relationship. also a place we visited On our last day in London, we was Bicester Village did more touristy things in the Outlet Mall – lots of morning, visiting St. Paul’s Ca- good deals on Eurothedral, Millennium Bridge, and pean brands – AlexTate Modern. For lunch, we visit- ander McQueen, Dior, ed another one of Lester’s friends Valentino, Loew, and by 3:30 p.m., we were ready more. I let loose in to leave the city, to explore the Missoni. English countryside. We rented To Eat: Bistro a car and drove two hours to our Fifteen at the Pelfirst stop, Stonehenge. ham; and MichelinThe rain made it difficult for us 3-starred Waterside to explore the world-famous pre- Inn which deserves a historic monument. So we agreed separate column, on to come back on another trip, dur- its own. It’s pricey, ing the summer perhaps. But in but definitely well the bookstore, as we were paying worth it. for souvenirs, we overheard the To See: St. Paul’s cashier talking about a private Cathedral, Millenium tour the next day. It’s usually Bridge, Tate Modern booked in advance, but somebody Museum, Stonehenge, cancelled, freeing up two slots. I Jannelle So is She looked at him and he knew what is credited for creto do. ating, hosting and Clue #14 – Communication is producing America’s very important. Find someone you first and only locallycould express yourself to and who produced daily talk could understand you --- not just show for Filipinos, in words, but in your actions, re- that ran for 8 ½ years actions, body language and even under her leadership, mannerisms. making it the longestWe got the ticket, alright, but running Filipino talk the private sunrise tour was set show outside of the to start at 5:30a.m. The following Philippines. day, in the very cold thirty degree On her spare time, weather. We checked in at New- she loves to travel. ton Farmhouse, a small bed and This new column breakfast in Salisbury, 8 miles will document her sosouth of the Stonehenge. journs as she shares The sunrise tour of Stonehenge what she learns an was well worth the sacrifice of discovers on her trips. getting out of bed at the crack of Connect to her on dawn. It was bitter cold and driz- Facebook, Twitter and zling. Neither of us expected to be Instagram; or email in that kind of cold so we didn’t her at sojannelle77@ pack heavy winter clothing. In- gmail.com.
My former boyfriend, – now my husband – Lester Perkins, lived in Notting Hill for a few years before moving to the U.S. Saturday is alive at the world-famous Portobello Market, where the road is filled with sidewalk vendors selling antiques some people would classify as “junk.”
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Politicians debate vaccines as US faces measles outbreak By Jean-Louis Santini
Washington, United States | AFP | Tuesday 2/3/2015 – US President Barack Obama and American health authorities appealed to the public to vaccinate their children as the country faces an outbreak of measles due to some parents believing vaccines against deadly diseases are dangerous. Considered eradicated from the US in 2000, measles re-emerged in December in an outbreak clustered around the Disneyland amusement park in California. Since then, 102 cases of measles have been reported in 14 states according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). “We are very concerned by the growing number of people who are susceptible to measles and the possibility that we could have
a large outbreak in this country as a result,” head of the CDC Tom Frieden said over the weekend while encouraging parents to vaccinate their children. Measles causes fever and rash and in severe cases can lead to pneumonia or brain swelling. The disease is highly contagious because it is transmitted through the air. The United States had 644 cases of measles in 2014, a record number since 2000. There were 173 cases in 2013. The resurgence of the disease in the US coincides with a movement of some parents refusing to vaccinate their children. Many people who don’t vaccinate their children say they fear a triple vaccine for measles, mumps and rubella is responsible for increasing cases of autism – a theory repeatedly disproven by vari-
ous studies. Other people refuse vaccination on religious or political grounds. The controversy dates back to the publication of a now debunked article in the Lancet medical journal in 1998. The media has been heavily criticized for republishing information in the report that was withdrawn in 2010. Beliefs unfounded Numerous scientific studies have clearly shown there is no link between vaccines and autism or other health risks. In 2014, the parents of 79 percent of unvaccinated children asked authorities of their state to be exempt from immunization on the basis of their beliefs, said Anne Schuchat, head of immunization at the CDC. President Obama tried to convince skeptical parents to ignore unfounded beliefs about vaccines
as concerns over the outbreak grow. “I understand that there are families that, in some cases, are concerned about the effect of vaccinations. The science is, you know, pretty indisputable. We have looked at this again and again. There is every reason to get vaccinated, but there are not reasons to not,” Obama said Sunday. The issue of vaccinations has stirred up the country’s political scene, particularly among potential Republican candidates for the 2016 presidential election. The issue presents challenges for the politicians who do not want to alienate the ultra-conservative electorate who sometimes reject the vaccine. When asked about the issue, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, a moderate Republican, said it was important for parents
to have “some measure of choice.” His press office later issued a statement saying children should be vaccinated for the disease. “While I think it’s a good idea to take the vaccine, I think that is a personal decision for individuals,” said Senator Rand Paul, a doctor and leader among the Tea Party, a more conservative movement. On the other hand, Speaker of the House or Representatives, Republican John Boehner was very clear on the issue: “I do believe that all children ought to be vaccinated.” The same message was echoed by Republican Senator Marco Rubio: “There is absolutely no medical science or data whatsoever that links those vaccinations to onset of autism or anything of that nature,” he said. “So absolutely, all children in American should be vaccinated.”
Bruce Jenner ‘gender change’ captures US attention By Robert Macpherson
Washington, United States | AFP | Friday 2/6/2015 – Olympic champion turned reality TV star Bruce Jenner has Americans’ rapt attention once again amid talk that he is soon to come out as transgender. People magazine, a trusted conduit for Hollywood publicists, reported this week that Jenner, 65, would open up in a forthcoming interview with ABC News. “Bruce is transitioning to a woman,” the celebrity news weekly quoted a source close to the family as saying, after weeks of tabloid speculation. “He is finally happy and his family is accepting of what he’s doing. He’s in such a great space. That’s why it’s the perfect time to do something like this.” Jenner’s 88-year-old mother Esther Jenner, who lives in Idaho, meanwhile told RadarOnline.com that she had “just learned” about her son’s gender transition. “I have never been more proud of Bruce for who he is, himself as a father, as an Olympian, a wonderful public speaker,” she told the gossip website. “He instills enthusiasm in people. He’s gifted.” In the latest twist, the Kardashian family – into which Jenner has been married – cancelled all press events Thursday in the run-up to season 10 of their hit reality TV show “Keeping Up with the Kardashians.” Jenner himself has been lying low, ahead of the premiere of a documentary that will reportedly chronicle his gender transition.
Speculation that the actor, race-car enthusiast and 1976 Montreal Summer Olympics decathlon gold medallist is undergoing a sex change has been rich fodder for supermarket tabloids for months. Supposed telltale signs, based on paparazzi photos from the streets of Los Angeles, include shaved limbs, long hair worn in a ponytail and what appears to be a sports bra under a T-shirt. Throat surgery clue In late January, Jenner was seen emerging from a Beverly Hills clinic with a bandage around neck, presumably after surgery to flatten his Adam’s apple. Known as a laryngeal shave, the procedure – which involves reducing cartilage in the throat for a more feminine look – is common among transgenders. “I just never liked my trachea,” he told the TMZ.com gossip website prior to the outpatient operation. American society is widely perceived as becoming more accepting of gender diversity, as seen by the legalization of same-sex marriage in many states. Transgender people, however, still face “staggering levels of discrimination and violence,” according to LGBT media activist group GLAAD. In the media, they typically appear as either victims or villains, GLAAD said, although the Golden Globe-winning Amazon original series “Transparent” has cast them in a more sympathetic light. Born outside New York in October 1949, thrice-married Jenner became an Ameri-
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can sports hero when he set a world record with his Montreal decathlon victory. Leveraging his fame, he appeared on boxes of Wheaties, a popular American cereal known as “the breakfast of champions,” then tried his hand as a movie actor, with less than stellar results. He did better on television, appearing in the 1980s police series “CHiPs” and sitcom “Silver Spoons” among other shows, and in 2003 the American version of “I’m a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!” But it was through his marriage to the former Kris Kardashian that he once again
became a household name in “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” in which he appeared as the sometimes bemused stepfather of her flamboyant daughters Kourtney, Kim and Khloe. “I had it all, and then I met Kris,” he quipped in one episode. “It’s typical for me to be forgotten in this family,” he added in another. He and Kris Kardashian have two daughters of their own, but they obtained a divorce in December, 14 months after separating – although he has been seen still wearing a wedding ring.
Ex-priest gets prison in Canada for sexual assaults of children
Ottawa, Canada | AFP | Wednesday 2/4/2015 – A defrocked Catholic priest was sentenced Wednesday to 19 years in prison for sexual assault of dozens of children in the Canadian Arctic, where he worked as a missionary for decades. Belgian-born Eric Dejaeger, 67, was convicted in September of 31 counts of sexual offenses against Inuit children and one count of bestiality with a sled dog. With credit for time served while awaiting trial, he is expected to spend the next 11 years in jail. Dejaeger had originally faced 80 charges, but the judge ruled the evidence had been weakened by the passage of time, and whittled down the number in the indictment. During the emotionally-charged trial,
more than 20 victims testified that Dejaeger used his position as a missionary to lure them into sex, threatening them with hellfire and separation from their families if they exposed him. From 1978 to 1982, Dejaeger worked alongside other local priests in Igloolik in what was then the Northwest Territories, and eventually took on Canadian citizenship. In 1990, he was convicted and sentenced to five years in prison for sexually assaulting eight children in Baker Lake, Nunavut. Following his release from prison and facing fresh allegations, he fled to his birth country of Belgium, where he was arrested in 2011 and subsequently returned to Canada to face prosecution.
Belgium considers int’l arrest warrants for HSBC Brussels, Belgium | AFP | Monday 2/9/2015 – A Belgian judge is considering issuing international arrest warrants for the directors of the Swiss division of HSBC, an official said Monday, as the bank faced a row over revelations that it helped wealthy clients dodge tax. The threat came as HSBC faced controversy over a cache of “SwissLeaks” documents published at the weekend that claim the bank handled secret accounts for drug lords, tax evaders and celebrities. In November, Belgium charged HSBC’s Swiss subsidiary with fraud and moneylaundering worth hundreds of millions of euros, mainly for diamond dealers in the industry’s international hub of Antwerp. HSBC said at the time that it would cooperate fully with the probe, but officials said the Swiss division had so far failed to deliver, prompting Belgian investigating judge Michel Claise to now consider further action.
“The judge believes that it is now time for the bank to cooperate, otherwise he will be forced to issue international arrest warrants for the current and former heads of the bank,” prosecution spokeswoman Ine Van Wymeersch told AFP. We cannot wait for too much longer otherwise we will not be able to move the investigation forward.” Belgium is one of several countries around the world that have launched investigations as a result of the SwissLeaks files. They were stolen by an IT worker in 2007 and passed to French authorities. The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) then obtained the files via French newspaper Le Monde, and shared them with more than 45 other media organizations worldwide. Belgium accuses Swiss subsidiary HSBC Private Bank SA (Suisse), which is wholly owned by the Asia-focused banking giant, of allegedly helped hundreds of clients cheat the Belgian state.
Last day to register to vote for 2015 Primary Nominating Election LOS ANGELES (February 10, 2015) – City Clerk Holly L. Wolcott reminds eligible residents they must register to vote by Tuesday, February 17, 2015 in order to be able to vote in the March 3, 2015 Primary Nominating Election. To be eligible to vote, you must be a citizen of the United States, be 18 years old by Election Day, and not in prison or on parole for a felony. Registered voters who have moved or changed their names since the last election must re-register to vote. Voter registration is handled by the Office of the California Secretary of State. You can register to vote from the following sources: • Complete your registration online at http://registertovote.ca.gov/. • Register in person at the Office of the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/ County Clerk (RR/CC), 12400 Imperial Highway, Norwalk, CA 90650. • Voter registration forms may also be
available at the public counter of most Los Angeles City and County buildings, libraries, fire stations, post offices, and Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) offices. To locate your polling place and to view the Official Sample Ballot for the March 3, 2015 Primary Nominating Election (available in English and 11 Federally and Citymandated languages including Armenian, Chinese, Farsi, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog (Filipino), Thai, and Vietnamese) visit the Los Angeles County RR/CC website at http://lavote.net/ LOCATOR. The Office of the City Clerk administers elections for the City of Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Unified School District and the Los Angeles Community College District. The City’s upcoming elections will be held on March 3, 2015 and May 19, 2015. More information can be found on the City Clerk’s election website at: http://clerk.lacity.org/ elections.
Courtyard at Ventura Canyon Apartments offer the most Value in SFV Panorama City, CA (2/1/15) – Thinking of renting an apartment? If you are looking for the newest, highest quality, largest and most livable rentals in the San Fernando Valley, look no further than Courtyard at Ventura Canyon, just down the street from Kaiser. According to building developer Stephen Ross, “Our new luxury apartments have been wildly successful with all kinds of renters. We’ve been open just 90 days and we have only 9 apartments left out of 50. Our extra large units are complemented with an outdoor lounge and courtyard that residents just love.” Additional features include a washer and
dryer in every unit, quartz kitchen counters, stainless steel microwave, dishwasher, stove and oven, and granite bathroom counters. All you need to move in is a toothbrush. There is a gym, a community BBQ, underground parking, secured intercom entry and that beautiful courtyard. You really need to see it to believe it. You really need to see it to believe it. 2 bedroom units start at just $1,795. You can visit Ventura Canyon at 7851 Ventura Canyon Ave. in Panorama City. Models are open daily. For more information please call John at 818.836.1425, or visit www.sfvapts.com. Montage. Neighborhood Builders.
THE US ASIAN POST Wednesday - Tuesday, February 11 - 17, 2015
ENTERT
LOS ANGELES
Alex Gonzaga
mo.’ Yes, I wanna be a beacon of hope that’s it,” she added. The movie adaptation will be written by Antoinette Jadaone, who is behind other films “Beauty in a Bottle”, “Relaks, It’s Just Pag-Ibig” and “That Thing Called Tadhana”.
Asked if she will be involved in the making of the movie, Gonzaga said: “Yun ang di namin alam. Di pa sure pero feeling ko ang kailangan dito ay yung mga natutunan, mas importante ‘yon, yung mga advice na dapat ginagawa ng babae, yun ang feeling ko na di dapat mawala sa movie.” “Natuuwa ako the main mission is to help young girls, heartbroken girls to learn from someone’s mistakes and to remind us that may kasama ka sa journey mong ito. Hindi lang si Lord at milyon pang babaeng heartbroken. Maraming salamat at sana ay suportahan niyo ang pelikula. Yung di mahilig magbasa suportahan niyo na lang yung pelikula kahit ako di din mahilig magbasa,” she added. Gonzaga said if ever she would like actors Luis Manzano, John Lloyd Cruz and Piolo Pascual to be part of the movie. (MNS)
Kris on being alone: Keribels na It seems actress-host Kris Aquino has accepted the fact that she may end up alone – and she’s fine with it. Aquino stressed that she is already satisfied to be the mother of sons Joshua and James “Bimby” Yap Jr. “Okay na nga, happy na ako. Pinray ko ‘yon kay Pope (Francis) nung nagma-mass. Kasi parang sinabi ko, nung sa gitna nung ulan na ‘yon, basta mabait lang. Kasi I was so proud na hindi nag-brat ‘yung dalawa – tiniis yung ulan, hindi nag-ingay, hindi nag-naughty. So sabi ko, ‘Sige na God kung imi-maintain mo silang ganito kabait, okay na na alone ako. Keribels na, okay kami,’” Aquino said. “You realize things in life... parang na-realize ko I’m meant to be a mom, maybe I am not meant to be a partner – for now hindi ba? But I am enjoying the season of my life to be a mom,” she said. (MNS)
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Kris Aquino
Erik Santos suffers from laryngitis after papal mass Singer Erik Santos admitted that he is still suffering from laryngitis or the inflammation of voice box. Santos said it was his first time to suffer from laryngitis. “First time kung magkaroon ng laryngitis. Actually nung kumanta ako for Papal Mass mayroon na po siya,” Santos said. “Sabi nga there’s a bug, parang yung kumanta sa Quirino Grandstand, may members din ng choir na hanggang ngayon ay wala pang boses,” Santos said. Aside from rest, he said he already took antibiotics for one week. “Ako for one week di ako nagsalita. Gumaling pero hindi pa siya 100% na okay,” Santos said. Last January 18, Santos gave the “biggest performance of his career” as he sang the responsorial psalm at the concluding mass for Pope Francis’ five-day pastoral visit to the Philippines. Accompanied by a 200-member orchestra, Santos sang Ps. 97 with 1,000 choir members from various dioceses at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila. The highly anticipated event, which was concelebrated by 2,5000 priests and attended by 200 bishops, was estimated to have had some 6 million people in attendance with millions more watching on television. Santos, who rose to fame after winning an ABS-CBN singing competition in 2003, had referred to his part in the papal mass as the most important performance of his decade-long career. (MNS)
Xian hopes ‘Paddington’ will lead to global fame Xian Lim is hoping the movie “Paddington” will pave the way for his international career. “Paddington” tells the story of a young Peruvian bear who travels to London to prove that he rightfully belongs to the Brown family. Lim will lend his voice to the titular character in the film. Lim recalled how he got the part, saying he felt really honored when he learned about it. “Nag-send kami ng voice samples sa UK. Right when they heard my voice, sabi nila, ‘Okay this is the guy!’ Nakakatuwa kasi it’s a children’s book tapos lagi ko siyang napapanood sa States. Very proud ako and it’s an honor for me to be Paddington,” he said. “Right when we started, diretso
na ng dubbing. Nag-iba iba lang kami ng mga voices tapos pumili kami kung ano talaga ang babagay kay Paddington,” he added. Lim said it would be a dream come true for him if his stint as “Paddington” will help him launch an international career. “I think lahat naman ng artista gustong maranasan ‘yung international level. That’s a huge accomplishment para sa isang artista,” he said. Asked how he studied the way Paddington speaks, Lim said: “I’m very very slang [sa movie] and may touch of British accent. Nakakatuwa, abangan niyo.” “Paddington” will be released in theaters nationwide on February 11. (MNS)
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7
INMENT
Alex Gonzaga’s book to be turned into a movie Actress-host Alex Gonzaga’s book “Dear Alex, Break na kami, Paano?! Love, Catherine” will soon be turned into a movie. Gonzaga signed a contract with Star Cinema for the book’s movie adaptation. Gonzaga said she never thought her book about a break up will become a hit. The book is now on its seventh printing. “Ang gusto ko lang ay tumulong gamit ang libro ko. Magkaroon ng pagbabago sa kahit sino, bagong perspective lang tungkol sa pagmamahal. Yung mga mistakes ko ay maging lessons sa iba para hindi na siya mistake kasi may natulungan ako. Naging blessing na siya sa iba,” Gonzaga said. “Natutuwa ako (na gagawin na siyang movie) kasi sabi ko nga sa editors namin na ang aim ko lang ay may isang babae na umiyak sa akin (at magsabi na) ‘grabe na touched ako sa libro
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KITCHENOMICS
FAMILY FEATURES
A
hot new dessert trend is here — cookies are getting a makeover. As identified in the McCormick Flavor Forecast 2015, favorite cookie flavors — like snickerdoodles and gingersnaps — are being reimagined in new decadent desserts. From peanut butter mousse tarts to chocolate chip biscotti with a creamy dipping sauce, these desserts redefine “milk and cookies.” “Here in the kitchens, we looked at the distinctive flavors of popular cookies for inspiration,” said Mary Beth Harrington of the McCormick Kitchens. “Cinnamon sugar is the signature flavor in snickerdoodles, so we reimagined that cinnamon sweetness into a peanut butter mousse and peanut crust, resulting in a delicious tart.” For more twists on classic cookie flavors, check out www.McCormick.com.
Prep time: 30 minutes Cook time: 8 minutes Refrigerate: 1 hour Servings: 8 (1/2 tart) servings 1 1/2 cups lightly salted roasted peanuts, lightly crushed 3 tablespoons packed brown sugar 3 tablespoons butter, melted 1 teaspoon McCormick Ground Cinnamon, divided 3 tablespoons chocolate milk 4 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, coarsely chopped 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
Peanut Butter Snickerdoodle Tart with Cinnamon Peanut Crust 2 tablespoons sweetened condensed milk 1 teaspoon McCormick Pure Vanilla Extract 1/2 cup heavy cream Mix peanuts, sugar, butter and 1/2 teaspoon of the cinnamon in medium bowl. Remove 1/4 cup and spread on small baking sheet. Divide remaining peanut mixture among 4 (4-inch) tart pans with removable bottoms. Press firmly onto bottom and up sides of each tart pan. Bake tart crusts and peanut crumble mixture together in preheated 350°F oven 8 minutes. Cool on wire racks. Meanwhile, microwave chocolate milk in medium microwavable bowl on high 45 seconds.
Add chocolate; stir until chocolate is completely melted and mixture is smooth. Set aside. Beat peanut butter, sweetened condensed milk, vanilla and remaining 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Add heavy cream; beat until soft peaks form. Spread in prepared tart crusts. Spread chocolate mixture over top. Refrigerate at least 1 hour or until ready to serve. Cut each tart in half. Sprinkle with toasted peanut crumble. Serve immediately. Note: To crush peanuts, place peanuts in large resealable plastic bag. Pound with a rolling pin, mallet or heavy skillet until lightly crushed.
Chocolate Chip Cookie Biscotti with White Chocolate Dipping Sauce Prep time: 20 minutes Cook time: 45 minutes Servings: 16 servings (2 cookies and 2 1/2 tablespoons sauce each) Biscotti: 2 1/2 cups flour 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar 1/4 cup instant nonfat dry milk 2 teaspoons baking powder 1/4 teaspoon salt 3 eggs
1 teaspoon McCormick Extra Rich Pure Vanilla Extract 1 cup miniature chocolate chips White Chocolate Dipping Sauce: 2 cups half-and-half 8 ounces white chocolate chips 1/4 cup Irish cream liqueur 2 teaspoons McCormick Extra Rich Pure Vanilla Extract For the biscotti, mix flour, sugar, dry milk, baking powder and salt in large bowl with electric mixer on low speed until well blended. Mix eggs and vanilla in medium bowl until well blended. Gradually add to flour mixture, beating on low speed until well mixed. Stir in chocolate chips. Divide dough in half. Shape each half into a 12-inch long log. Transfer logs to parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Flatten logs to 1-inch thickness. Bake in preheated 350°F oven 20 to 25 minutes or until slightly risen and firm to touch. Cool logs on wire rack 10 minutes or until cool enough to handle. Transfer to cutting board. Using a sharp serrated knife, cut logs diagonally into 3/4-inch thick slices. Place slices, cut sides down, in single layer on parchment paper-lined baking sheets. Bake 10 to 15 minutes or until crisp and golden, turning biscotti over halfway through cook time. Transfer biscotti to wire racks; cool completely. For the dipping sauce, place all ingredients in medium saucepan on medium heat. Simmer 5 minutes or until heated through, stirring constantly. Serve with biscotti.
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Compound found in red wine could help memory in the elderly
Red wine could help you burn fat, according to recent research. ©Igor Klimov/shutterstock.com
Red wine could boost the metabolism: study (Relaxnews) - Red wine or even the juice from red grapes could induce fat burning when consumed in moderation, according to a new study at Oregon State University in the US. The findings suggest this could be the basis of a useful dietary supplement for those who are overweight and could help individuals to manage metabolic disorders including fatty liver. In the study, published in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, the research team exposed laboratory-grown human liver and fat cells to extracts of four chemicals that occur naturally in dark-red Muscadine grapes. Of the chemicals, the most potent was ellagic acid, which sharply stunted the growth of existing fat cells and prevented new ones from forming. It also revved up the metabolism of liver cells, kicking fatty acids into action. “We didn’t find, and we didn’t expect to, that these compounds would improve body weight,” says lead author Neil Shay, a biochemist and molecular biologist at OSU, explaining that red wine shouldn’t be looked upon as a miracle weight loss drug. However, its fat-burning capabilities could improve liver function in overweight people, he says. “If we could develop a dietary strategy for reducing the harmful accumulation of fat in the liver, using common foods like grapes,”
Shay said, “that would be good news.” Shay and his team fed a diet consisting of 60 percent fat to a test group of mice, while feeding the control group a normal diet containing 10 percent fat. They supplemented the diets of some of the mice with mousesized portions of grape extracts, the rough equivalent of one and a half cups of grapes a day in human servings. Over the course of 10 weeks, mice on the high-fat diet suffered the same consequences as humans would, including diabetic symptoms and fatty livers. Yet mice that had been consuming the high-fat diet supplemented by grape extracts accumulated less fat in their livers and maintained lower blood sugar levels than those that did not receive the supplements. In fact, ellagic acid lowered their blood sugar almost enough to match that of the mice who were fed the healthy diet. Tissue analysis of the mice that ate the grape-supplemented highfat diet indicated high activity levels of two proteins that metabolize fat and sugar called PPARalpha and PPAR-gamma. Drugs for lowering blood sugar and triglycerides bring on the same effect, says Shay, who says his goal is not to replace medications but to help people make wise dietary choices.
(Relaxnews) – A team of researchers has found that resveratrol – a wellknown compound found in the skin of red grapes and in red wine – could help prevent memory loss in old age. An antioxidant also found in peanuts and some berries, resveratrol has made headlines for its potential to curb some effects of aging and prevent heart disease, yet the current study says it could be important for memory, learning and mood. “The study provides novel evidence that resveratrol treatment in late middle age can help improve memory and mood function in old age,” says Ashok K. Shetty, PhD, a professor in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Medicine and Director of Neurosciences at the Institute for Regenerative Medicine at Texas A&M University in the US. In the study, Dr. Shetty and his team worked with rats, spring boarding on the fact that both humans and animals undergo cognitive decline after middle age. Rats treated with resveratrol ex-
to and from dialysis treatments. Kingsbury admitted that between April 2010 and July 2012, he conspired with the owners of Alpha, Alex Kapri and Aleksey Muratov, and the training supervisor, Danielle Medina, to bill Medicare for ambulance transportation services for individuals that did not need to be transported by ambulance. In addition, as general manager, Kingsbury instructed emergency medical technicians employed by Alpha to conceal the true medical condition of patients they were transporting by altering paperwork and creating false justifications for the transportation services. In early 2012, Medicare notified Alpha that they would be subject to a Medicare audit. In response, Kingsbury admitted that he and his co-conspirators altered patient documentation to falsely justify the ambulance transportation services. Specifically, Kingsbury admitted that he and others used light tracing tables to trace over original documents and create falsified patient documentation for submission to Medicare. They then shredded the original patient documents. Kingsbury and his co-conspirators submitted $5,522,079 in fraudulent claims to Medicare, and Medicare paid $1,338,413 on those claims. Further, according to admissions in connection with Kingsbury’s guilty plea, in April 2012, Kingsbury was approached by law
Resveratrol, a compound found in red wine, could prevent memory decline due to aging, according to a new study. ©Symbiot/shutterstock.com
to find out just how much resveratrol is needed to produce these positive effects in the brain.
Going organic really does reduce pesticide exposure: study
Conventionally grown celery has one of the highest exposures to pesticide in the US.
(Relaxnews) – A recent study at Boise State University in Idaho says that when it comes to pesticide exposure, organic foods live up to the health hype that’s been surrounding them for decades. In their study, which was published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, the research team worked with dietary data from 4,500 people from six cities in the US. Using the data, they were able to analyze exposure to components called organophosphates (OPs) that are found in the insecticides
Ambulance firm manager gets 7+ years for $5.5-M Medicare fraud WASHINGTON – The general manager of a Southern California ambulance company was sentenced today to 87 months in federal prison for his role in a $5.5 million scheme to defraud the Medicare program. Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Acting U.S. Attorney Stephanie Yonekura of the Central District of California, Special Agent in Charge Glenn R. Ferry of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General’s (HHS-OIG) Los Angeles Region and Assistant Director in Charge Bill Lewis of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office made the announcement. Wesley Harlan Kingsbury, 34, of Bloomington, California, pleaded guilty on Sept. 15, 2014, to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, one count of conspiracy to obstruct a Medicare audit and one count of making materially false statements to federal law enforcement officers. In addition to the prison sentence, U.S. District Judge Dale S. Fischer of the Central District of California ordered Kingsbury to pay $1,338,413 in restitution. According to admissions made in connection with his guilty plea, Kingsbury was the general manager of Alpha Ambulance Inc. (Alpha), which specialized in the provision of non-emergency ambulance transportation services to Medicare beneficiaries, primarily
hibited improved spatial learning and memory in what Dr. Shetty calls a striking contrast with their counterparts in the control group, who did not receive resveratrol. According to Dr. Shetty, the ability to create new spatial memories in the untreated rats plunged, to which he says decreasing neurogenesis is to blame. By contrast, the growth and development of neurons had roughly doubled in the rats treated with resveratrol, says Dr. Shetty. These rats also showed improved blood flow and lowered inflammation in the hippocampus – a part of the brain that’s key to learning, memory and mood. Study authors acknowledge funds from the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the paper was published in the journal Scientific Reports. Future projects include trials
enforcement officers and asked to assist with the investigation into Alpha. Kingsbury disclosed to the owners of Alpha the names of the law enforcement officers who were conducting the investigation and the questions they had asked. On May 1, 2012, Kingsbury falsely denied to the law enforcement agents that he had disclosed that information to the owners of Alpha. Kapri, Muratov and Medina pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud on Oct. 28, 2013. They were sentenced to 75 months, 108 months, and 30 months in prison, respectively. The case was investigated by the FBI and the Los Angeles Region of HHS-OIG and was brought as part of the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, supervised by the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California. The case was prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Blanca Quintero and Alexander F. Porter, and Assistant Chief Ben Curtis of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section. Since its inception in March 2007, the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, now operating in nine cities across the country, has charged more than 2,100 defendants who have collectively billed the Medicare program for more than $6.5 billion. In addition, HHS’s Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHSOIG, is taking steps to increase accountability and decrease the presence of fraudulent providers.
that are widely used among conventional producers in the US. Participants’ exposure to OPs was calculated using the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) measurements of pesticide residue levels in the foods in their diets and the amount of those foods they actually consumed. The research team then compared these sums to the pesticide levels obtained from urine samples of a subset of 720 participants. Indeed, data analysis showed that subjects who ate organic produce had significantly less expo-
sure to OPs than those who didn’t – even if they ate similar amounts of fruits and vegetables between them. Foods with the highest rate of treatment with OP pesticides include apples, nectarines and peaches, and subjects who ate the most of these foods sourced from conventional growers showed even greater exposure. “For most Americans, diet is the primary source of OP pesticide exposure,” says Cynthia Curl, an assistant professor at BSU. “The study suggests that by eating organically grown versions of those foods highest in pesticide residues, we can make a measurable difference in the levels of pesticides in our bodies.” Curl advises those looking to reduce their pesticide exposure to stick with organic versions of the foods known to contain the most pesticides based on the findings of US-based watchdog the Environmental Working Group (EWG). The EWG refers to these foods collectively as the “Dirty Dozen” list, and it includes apples, strawberries, grapes, celery, peaches, spinach, sweet bell peppers, imported nectarines, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, imported snap peas and potatoes.
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MOTORING ‘Dashcams’ catching everything from scammers to disasters
Paris, France | AFP | Thursday 2/5/2015 – The terrifying footage of a plane clipping a bridge in Taiwan and crashing into a river this week highlighted the popularity of “dashcams” that are capturing everything from crime to natural disasters through the windscreen. The TransAsia accident, which left least 35 people dead and several others still missing, was filmed by at least two cars carrying dashboard cameras which have become common in Taiwan – mostly to guard against disputes after accidents. The footage showed the plane banking steeply, apparently to avoid city buildings, and striking a passing taxi before crashing into a river from where 15 people made miracle escapes from the wreckage. With the gadget catching on in parts of the world, particularly Russia and Asia’s more developed nations like South Korea and Singapore, it was far from the first time an astonishing event has been captured in this way. In February 2013, a car-camera caught a meteorite plummeting to Earth in Chelyabinsk, Russia, injuring more than 1,000 people. And last summer, a dashcam filmed a missile landing on a motorway just a few meters ahead of a speeding car in eastern Ukraine. The cameras have become particularly popular with Russians and South Koreans as a deterrent for scammers who throw themselves onto the windscreens of slow-moving cars in a bid to claim insurance money. The trend has spawned an amusing genre of videos of people jumping onto the bonnets of stationary vehicles and pretending to be hurt. Dashcams have been popular for years in South Korea where they are known as “black boxes” and range from simple front-pointing cams which cost around $150, to four-way cams that cover every angle and cost upwards of $400. The vast majority of South Korean car owners use them – primarily for insurance purposes. As in other countries, they are used as evidence in the event of a crash, and insurers offer discounts on monthly premiums to car owners who use them. ‘Major shift’ among consumers Across the rest of Asia, the gadget’s uptake is a mixed picture: fairly popular in affluent Hong Kong and Singapore, burgeoning sales in Australia and China, and relatively unknown elsewhere. Singapore’s largest taxi firm has installed cameras in all 16,600 of its vehicles to provide evidence after an accident, but also to encourage prudence from drivers in a society which strictly adheres to rules. The gadgets hit the headlines in 2012, when shocking images emerged of a speeding Ferrari driven by a Chinese expatriate running a red light and smashing into a taxi at an
intersection, killing the two drivers and a passenger. While dashboard videos are mainly used to settle insurance claims, they are also fed to activist websites which shame reckless drivers by posting videos of their acts online. Dashcams are still relatively new to Australian motorists, but are gaining popularity for their use in combating road rage. Police have urged caution, however, and warned the cams can pose a distraction on the road. Papago, a Taiwanese manufacturer which supplies around 20 percent of
the global market, said it sells around 1.0 million dash cams a year with China, Japan, the United States, Russia and Australia its main destinations. “Sales in China has been up around 20 percent in recent years due to growing demand as there have been many fake car accidents to scam money, “ chief marketing officer Jericho Hsiao told AFP. “With the recent news on the dashcam footage of the crash, the world is talking about them and... the exposure will help promote the product,” he added. The habit has also started
to catch on in Europe. Sales were estimated to have reached 370,000 in France by early 2014 according to magazine UFC-Que Choisir. “We are seeing a major shift, with people equipping themselves more and more with cameras in their cars, first of all for use after accidents, but also in case of a hit-and-run,” said a spokesman for France’s Allianz and Amaguiz insurance firm, which has tied up with dashcam manufacturer Coyote. Pierre Chasseray, head of a French drivers’ association called 40 Millions
Dashcams are capturing everything from crime to natural disasters through the windscreen. “The camera never lies.”
d’Automobilistes, said dashcams should become standard. “It’s an extremely posi-
tive development in terms of road safety and it’s good in terms of ensuring drivers act responsibly,” he said.
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SELECT PNP
From page 1
Mamasapano incident as it has been “flipflopping” in its statements to the media. “The sooner they submit the factual report, the more we can compare and erase the idea of a coverup. Magkakaroon ng notion na nire-repair yung report,” he said. Senator Grace Poe, head of the committee conducting the investigation, said she received a letter from Iqbal dated January 29, 2015 stating that he will refer the invitation to the MILF Central Committee,
From page 1
“which ultimately has the jurisdiction and mandate over such invitation.” “I will relay the action of the Central Committee on this invitation as soon as possible. Rest assured that the MILF is one with your committee in trying to understand what happened that day. MILF is also doing its own internal probe into that matter,” Iqbal said in his letter. Iqbal was present at the Senate Monday last week during the hearing on the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law. (MNS)
PURISIMA From page 1
planned out with the Armed Forces of the Philippines. He said the operational plans had the codenames Wolverine, Terminator, Terminator 2 and finally, Oplan Exodus. One such operation conducted last April 25, 2014 in Barangay Libutan in Mamasapano was aborted after the 6th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army “withdrew is commitment to provide mechanized support units” for the SAF, he said. Napeñas said one of the reasons why the operation to capture Marwan was kept from the military is because of the possibility that the operation would be compromised. “The information and preparations are leaked every time there is an operation against high value targets is conducted,” he said. He also said both Marwan and Basit Usman are coddled by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front who also has contacts inside the PNP and AFP. Last November, Napeñas said Purisima gave information about the possible location of Marwan. He said this led to Oplan Terminator on November 29, 2014, which was aborted because of equipment failure.
Another operation, codenamed Terminator 2, was aborted after the assault force’s boats were attacked by lawless groups just 3 kilometers away from Marwan’s alleged lair in Mamasapano. On January 9, 2015, Napeñas said he and several police officials met with President Aquino in MalacaNang Palace to brief the commander in chief about Oplan Exodus. “Under Oplan Exodus, coordination with the AFP will be time on target in order to avoid another compromise. His Excellency cited about the coordination with the AFP for coordination with the AFP that he had earlier stated,” he said. The SAF chief said Purisima, who was already suspended at that time, talked with the President while he and the other police officials went out. It was then that Purisima came out and told him that he did not need to inform Armed Forces chief of staff Gregorio Catapang and PNP OIC Leonardo Espina. “Wag mo munang sabihan yung dalawa. Saka na pag nandun na. Ako na ang bahala kay General Catapang,” he recalled Purisima as saying.
NAPEÑAS From page 1
asked by the President as to the mission. This was manifested by the fact that when we were presenting the mission update, he’s being constantly consulted by the president,” Napeñas said. He said the last mission update with the president was on January 9, 2015. Napeñas believes, however, that it was more of a “statement” rather than “order” from Purisima not to inform Espina and Roxas of the plan. “It was a statement of General Purisima which I considered, considering the fact that he’s the one consistently being asked by president on the intricacies of the operation, and he has the intelligence package,” he added.
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While he took the blame for the mission, Napeñas also pointed a finger at the Armed Forces of the Philippines for failing to provide the needed help during the firefight with non-government troops, including the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters. He said the president had constantly reminded all parties of the need for constant coordination. “We would really like to really work closely with the Armed Forces… However, during the Mamasapano operations, we were abandoned by the 6th Infantry Division by not providing the Mechanized Brigade during the operations despite due coordination with them. Napakasakit ‘nun,” he said.(MNS)
Lacierda said Purisima’s resignation could help address concerns about having two PNP chiefs – a suspended one and an officer-in-charge. Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina is the PNP’s OIC but may retire in July. “Overall I think the concerns about that what we heard about having two PNP chiefs, one suspended and one merely an OIC, will be addressed right now,” he said. “Perhaps the President and the DILG secretary will have time to discuss the appointment of the new PNP chief and that
would provide continuity and certainly it will improve the morale of the PNP,” Lacierda added. Meanwhile, Lacierda said the government continues to address all these concerns as well, and of the families of the SAF heroes who died in Mamasapano. Lacierda also said the Palace wil put into consideration as well the fact that Espina is set to retire in a few months. Another factor to be considered is who will provide continuity as to the ongoing reforms at the PNP. (MNS)
CHIEF BLAMES From page 1
Force police troopers killed in a clash in Mamasapano. “Kung nakipag-coordinate sila, siyempre i-inform namin ang MILF na may operation kami riyan sa lugar na ‘yan, huwag sila makikialam,” Catapang said. The January 25 incident resulted in the deaths of the 44 elite police officers and thw wounding of 12 others. The Moro Islamic Liberation Front claimed 18 of its fighters were killed in the clash. The MILF’s breakaway group, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, was also involved in the encounter.
The PNP SAF’s mission was to serve the warrant of arrest to two suspected terrorists – Malaysian Jemaah Islamiyah leader Zulkifli bin Hir also known as Marwan and Filipino bomb maker Basit Usman—who were confirmed to be hiding in the area. Marwan, who has a $5 million bounty on his head, reportedly died during the clash, while Usman managed to escape. “Sa madaling salita… ang mga SAF troopers sa Barangay Tukanalipao ay nagtungo sa lugar na iyon nang may humigit pa sa sapat na paghahanda,” Napeñas said. (MNS)
MANCAO
INDO PRESIDENT
From page 1
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hardships and feel I really had to apologize,” he added. Mancao worked for Lacson during his the latter’s stint as Philippine National Police chief and the head of the defunct Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force. “I know Senator Lacson for decades. He’s been consistent, respectable, sensible, incorruptible and fearless,” said Mancao. Lacson had been cleared by the Court of Appeals in the double-murder case. The Supreme Court later upheld the CA’s decision. Aside from Lacson, Mancao also apologized to former president and current Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada for linking him to the crime. “In the case of former president Estrada, in the first place, he was not entered in the charge but I still feel that I disrespected him,” said Mancao, who worked under Estrada during his stint at the Presidential Anti-Crime Commission. Mancao revealed that he was only forced by the past administration to implicate Lacson and Estrada but did not mention names. “People were dictating my actions. They made an affidavit for me to sign which I stood by in courts,” added Mancao. (MNS)
with the pair expected to sign several agreements, the presidential palace in Manila said. However, his visit comes as the Philippines tries to prevent the execution of a female national facing death by firing squad in Indonesia after being convicted of smuggling heroin. A spokesman for Aquino, Edwin Lacierda, said the leaders would discuss drug trafficking but did not say if they would address the case of the woman, who has not been publicly named. “We are in discussions to further work out cooperation in various areas of mutual interest and concerns, such as migrant workers, technical-vocational skills upgrading, the combating of trafficking of narcotics, and (for) educational visits,” Lacierda said. Another Aquino spokesman, Herminio Coloma, later said in an interview on government radio that the two leaders would also take up “maritime cooperation, defence, trade and investment”. The Department of Foreign Affairs said that the accords would cover education, narcotics cooperation, a joint declaration on protecting migrant workers and “research and training in the field of defense studies”.